Chandigarh, 02 November 2024: Mohali, Amritsar, and Chandigarh faced severe pollution spikes after Diwali celebrations, with air quality reaching hazardous levels due to extensive fireworks displays on Thursday and Friday. Among them, Mohali recorded the worst conditions, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 369, placing it among the most polluted cities nationwide.
Amritsar followed closely with an AQI of 339, while Chandigarh recorded 311, both reflecting alarming pollution surges. Data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) shows that Amritsar’s air quality was nearly on par with Delhi’s, which consistently ranks as one of India’s most polluted areas.
By Friday evening, Amritsar’s AQI had risen to 350, prompting officials to weigh “Level 3” restrictions should conditions worsen. Chandigarh saw a slight midday dip to 302 but remains on high alert.
Environmental experts caution that any improvement may be short-lived as residual pollution lingers.
Several other Punjab cities reported elevated AQI levels on Saturday morning, including Ludhiana (266), Jalandhar (225), Khanna (220), Mandi Gobindgarh (236), and Patiala (231), underscoring widespread air quality challenges across the state.
